Photo Flash: Idol: The Musical

Performances for Idol: The Musical, described as "a satirical new Off-Broadway musical described as "a show based on the worship of Clay Aiken," began Off-Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre (354 W. 45th St.) on Thursday, July 5th.

Produced by the Syracuse Civic Theatre's Todd Ellis, "Idol" features a book by Bill Boland. Jon Balcourt composed the music. Boland and Balcourt co-wrote the lyrics. Daniel Tursi directs.

The show, according to press notes, "is a satirical musical comedy that focuses on the outrageous and delusional fan base of the hit television show. The musical takes place in Steubenville, Ohio where a group of dork-like students are preparing for their high school graduation after which they are determined to drag themselves out of the dregs of the middle-of-nowhere. There are eight of them; all belonging to the same cult-like club that meets daily in a barn that doubles as a shrine to Clay Aiken...The story heats up when the mid-American leg of the 'Idol Tour,' starring Clay Aiken, is announced to be playing Chicago, Memphis, Louisville, Scranton, Charleston, Greensboro, Roanoke and...Steubenville."

Featured in the cast are Babs Rubenstein (42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, Footloose, Titanic) who plays 'Adrienne' the real bad-guy of the piece; Jennie Riverso (Once Upon A Mattress, Bye Bye Birdie, Cats) who plays 'Alex' a brutally combative diamond-in-the-rough who fights all of her battles with her two fists; Nikita Richards (Cats, Peter Pan) who plays 'Cass' a Goth-chick whose voodoo doll is named 'Willard'; Courtney Ellis (The Sound of Music, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Miracle Worker) who plays 'Cicaida,' a child prodigy with an encyclopedic knowledge of the world; Jon Balcourt (The Wiz, Good News, Babes In Toyland, Anything Goes) who plays 'Connor,' the home-schooled kid; Ryan Sprague (Cyrano de Bergerac, The Giver, Proof) who plays 'Duncan,' a loveable goofball obsessed with Western apparel; Joella Burt (The Wizard of Oz, Grease, Footloose, Annie), who plays 'Emily' the alpha-misfit; Joe Walker (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) who plays 'J.D.,' the basketball phenom who longs to be a Chippendale dancer and Roy George-Thiemann (Seussical, The Wiz, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown), who plays 'Kodi' a self-appointed celebrity waiting to happen.

Tickets are $60 for general admission, and $25 for student rush. Call 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com for tickets.